A NSW man has pleaded guilty to a bungled grain theft that came unstuck when he rolled the Kenworth prime mover and two trailers in the getaway.
Curtis John Adams, 33, tried to steal 40 tonnes of grain from another farmer’s property during what his lawyer told a court this week was a “stupid brain snap”.
Police discovered Adams had sent an SMS to the son of a Dubbo-based heavy vehicle recovery and towing company operator, asking for help, reported The Dubbo News.
An unnamed witness helped Adams salvage about 25 tonnes of the spilt grain and took a photo of the prime mover and trailer.
Police searched Adams’s property on December 2 and found a grain trailer with the stolen grain it.
The trailer was seized and police later found Adams’s fingerprints on equipment used to steal the grain.
When he was arrested on December 3, Adams confessed and apologised.
“I don’t know what came over me,” he told police.
In Parkes Local Court Adams pleaded guilty to larceny and negligent driving charges.
Defence solicitor Paul McGirr said Adams made a “foolish and fatal error”.
“He’s not very good at what he’s actually done,” said McGirr.
“He will be forever known as a thief … one of the worst things you can be known as in a country town is a thief.”
The court heard Adams agreed to pay the other farmer $10,000 for the stolen grain.
McGirr said because police seized Adam’s property, he would end up being out of pocket about $30,000.
A report to see whether Adams would be eligible for community service was requested by Magistrate Crompton and the case adjourned to a date in March for sentencing.